Pat Ward Obituary

Pat Alston Ward left this Earth on June the 11th. Graveside services were held on Saturday June 16th at the Lovington Cemetery. She was born in Aspermont, Texas on July 4th, 1926, and grew up in Lovington, New Mexico, the daughter of Mable and Lester Alston. Her parents, husband, mother-in-law Mary Ward, dear brother Garry Alston and step-daughter Lynda Ward preceded her in death.
Pat attended Oklahoma University and graduated from OU with a double major in Library Science and Geology. She was always a proud "Sooner".
In 1952 she married Bill R. Ward of Hatch, NM who was a cowboy on the rodeo circuit. They moved to Paris, Texas and had two children, a son Scharbauer and a daughter Sawyer. The family moved back to New Mexico in 1964, settling in Ruidoso. Pat was the village librarian from 1964 to 1966, when the family moved to Lincoln. Pat was hired as the Curator of all the state owned property in Lincoln and Pat and Bill pretty much ran town of Lincoln for the next twelve to thirteen years. They worked hard and we all loved it there.
Pat then followed Bill R. to McDonald, New Mexico and they began their ranching life together at the Alston Ranch for the next 20 years or so. Her beloved husband, Bill R., passed away in 1999. With Bill r. gone, she left the ranch and moved back full time to Ruidoso. She always said she was in love with the rancher more then the ranch, although she loved her family ranch and all her long time neighbors and friends in Lea County. She lived in Ruidoso on Porr Drive for around 16 years.
Along with her two children, Pat was a loving step-mother to Bill R. and Lynda Ward. She had 6 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren and no one loved them more than Pat Ward. She loved and served everyone in and out of her family and I can truly say she was without a doubt the best and finest mother anyone could ever have. She was a small lady who had a heart as big as the universe and she did a lot of living in her 85 years without one single enemy and countless friends all across the nation. Everybody loved Pat Ward. She was/is a true hero and example of a real patriot and ranch woman who gave of herself to her community, family and friends.
She was a proud member of the Corriente Cowbell association and enjoyed her fellow cowbells and promoting the ranching industry. In leau of flowers, donations may be made to the Corriente Cowbells, the Arthritis Foundation or to local fire relief funds.
We invite everyone who knew her to join us for a celebration of her life on July 4th at the Club House at Innsbruck Village, 103 Innsbruck Drive, from 5:30 p.m. on. Have dinner, tell stories and laugh. That is what she enjoyed the most.